Category: Barbados

Spanning the globe in search of authentic expressions of rum, Alexandre Gabriel’s Plantation Rum brand celebrates the diversity of rum and brings a unique perspective to the marketing of sugar cane spirits.

Plantation’s myriad rum offerings celebrate the incredible range and richness of rum in both culture and taste, from points of origin to fermentation, distillation and barreling techniques.

Having spent countless days in the Caribbean in search of the best rums, Alexandre Gabriel’s dedication to understanding rum’s diversity is without equal. This decades-long obsession has effectively provided the enthusiastic consumer and rum collector with a global rum education on a silver platter.

Plantation Rum will present a seminar entitled “Exploring the Diversity of Rum,” at Miami Rum Festival on Friday, May 17 at 7pm. This seminar, lead by Rocky Yeh, will guide participants on a journey across rum’s broad landscape to explore that magnificent multiplicity of variety within the rum category.

The Miami Rum Festival takes place at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club on Friday, May 17 from 4 to 8pm, and on Saturday, May 18th from 4 to 10pm. VIP admission begins at 2pm each day.

The festival features rum producers from near and far exhibiting their products, along with seminars and master classes, cocktail demonstrations and a blind tasting competition by international judges.

The Plantation Rum brand will be highlighting some of their most outstanding expressions with tasting samples that explore the diversity of rum across many regions, including Xaymaca from Jamaica; Fiji Grand Terroir 2009; Jamaica Grand Terroir 2005; Barbados Grand Terroir 2005; Old Fashioned Traditional Dark Overproof; Original Dark Double Aged; 20th Anniversary XO from Barbados, 3 Stars White from Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad; Barbados Five Years; and Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple rum.

The Diversity of Rum seminar takes the participants on a journey across rum’s broad landscape to explore that magnificent variety within the rum category.

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Since 1703, the legendary masters of rum, at their production facilities of Mount Gay Distillery in Barbados, have been creating fine aged rums, acclaimed the world over.

On Friday, May 17 at 3pm, the Miami Rum Festival will present a special seminar that pulls back the curtain on the Mount Gay Distillery production process, revealing the traditions and time-honored routines that remain unchanged over the decades and centuries.

Classic Wooden Fermentation Vats at Mount Gay Distillery

Learn about their fermentation methods, the use of classic copper pot batch stills and modern fractional column continuous stills, their wood management philosophy and techniques, and perhaps most interesting of all — the art of blending their marques to make their world-famous rum expressions.

“We know the Mount Gay brand of fine aged rums as some of the best in the world, defining the style that we equate with the island of Barbados,” said Robert Burr, host of the Miami Rum Fest and publisher of Robs Rum Guide. “This is the heart and soul of Barbados.”

“While many have visited the Mount Gay Welcome Center in Bridgetown while visiting Barbados, few have been invited to the actual Mount Gay Distillery in St. Lucy Parish to see first-hand how these magnificent rums are created, aged and blended into the awarding winning products revered around the world.”

The 11th annual Miami Rum Fest takes place at the historic Coral Gables Woman’s Club. General admission on Friday, May 17th is from 4pm to 8pm and Saturday, May 18th from 4pm to 10pm. VIP admission starts at 2pm each day. For complete details, visit the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival web site. http://www.rumrenaissance.com/

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Bottled at 55% abv, Cashcane Saloon Cask aged rum is a blend of molasses-based spirits from Barbados, Trinidad and Panama, aged for six to eight years.

Each of the components lends a unique character to the blend, and the slightly elevated proof presents a bold expression reminiscent of cask strength American Bourbon. A small sip delivers big flavor.

Cashcane Saloon Cask Tasting Notes

Mild aromas of butter cookie and vanilla lead to toasted oak and some spices. On the palate, pencil shavings and vanilla, toasted oak and some subtle sweetness precede a slightly bitter cocoa that balances well. Ripe butter and cedar linger in the finish.

In a tumbler with good ice, Cashcane Saloon Cask is a fine sipper. In classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan, it plays through well with potent, well balanced rum flavor that compliments the other ingredients.

True to it’s namesake, this iconic brand hearkens the days of prohibition-era rum running when Bill McCoy refused to compromise on quality. Only 3,000 bottles of this micro-batch have been released.

Pedigree

The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum is a robust expression from Barbados created by blending rums aged in both Bourbon and Virgin American Oak casks.

Crafted at Foursquare Distillery, this expression relies on a higher percentage of copper pot still distillate for a richer flavor profile. Two batches are aged separately. The first spends twelve years in used Bourbon barrels. The second, ages ten years in virgin American oak casks.

Carefully blended to balance flavors, the result is bottled at a hardy 92 proof, an example of the authentic style of fine aged rum that made Barbados famous the world over.

Tasting notes

Aromas of ripe banana, toasted butter pecan, big oak and vanilla are accented by a funky fruit. On the palate, brown butter over charred oak brings vanilla, toasted almond and tart dried fruit with a suggestion of burnt sugar. The finish offers long lasting notes of dark buttered toast and plenty of oak.

Quality and Value

The Real McCoy 10 Year Old Limited Edition Virgin Oak Rum appeals to connoisseurs, while remaining accessible to all spirit enthusiasts who appreciate small-batch quality and good value.

Having been involved in owning bars, restaurants and nightclubs in Cirencester — a market town northwest of London — for many years, Richard was looking for an alternative to rums he was serving from large brands that had strayed from their origins. Continue reading

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From one of the oldest rum producers in the world comes one of the finest rare aged rums ever bottled, Mount Gay 1703 Master Select.

Derived from double copper pot and single column still distillates, this spirit is a blend of 10 to 30 year old aged rums. 1703 Master Select is a deliciously complex and concentrated nectar reflecting the life-long mastery of blender Allen Smith. Continue reading

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The iconic Mount Gay brand of rum from Barbados recently announced a special limited edition aged rum package: Origin Series – The Copper Stills.

From Barbados, the new Mount Gay Origin Series: Volume Two, The Copper Stills Collection features two similarly aged rums created in two different stills.

The Copper Stills: Pot vs. Column

Mount Gay releases their limited edition Origin Series Volume Two: The Copper Stills, featuring a selection of two aged rum expressions from Barbados.

The first was produced in a copper pot still, the traditional method of creating rum that dates back to the brand’s origins in Barbados in 1703. The second expression was created in a modern copper column still, a more efficient method for producing rum from molasses.

Each of the two rums included in this special package exhibits a flavor profile unique to it’s method of distillation. Mount Gay rums achieve their complexity and depth of flavor by combining these types of marques in their popular blends.

Tasting Notes

The Copper Pot Rum leads with aromas of sweet cane, vanilla and funky fruit. On the palate notes of dark chocolate, toasted coconut and almonds lead to butter and oak in the finish.

The Origin Series Collections

“We created the Origin Series collections so that we could give rum drinkers the unique opportunity to experience rum by tasting the pure essence of the distinct distillation methods. We want to share a deeper understanding of how each part of the process can change the taste of rum entirely,” said Mount Gay Master Blender Allen Smith. “Copper Pot is a rich, intricate interpretation of signature Mount Gay aromatics, robust in flavor and body. Copper Column is a delicate and mellow expression of our classic profile.”

Like Volume One of the Origin Series – which featured Virgin Cask and Charred Cask varieties – Volume Two is presented in bespoke packaging of two 375ml bottles, along with a detailed booklet that gives an overview of the creation of the two rums.

The Origin Series Copper Stills collection, at 43% abv, will be available beginning October 2016 at premium liquor and spirits stores across the United States for a suggested retail price of $95.

Falernum is a local specialty in Barbados — a unique combination of ingredients that reflect tropical flavors. Almond, lime, clove and ginger are the most common ingredients, however, varieties with allspice, vanilla, or even strawberries have been seen.

Examples of good aged Bajan rums include Mount Gay Black Barrel or XO, Cockspur VSOR, Doorly’s XO or 12 year old and Real McCoy 12 year old rum. Today, we’ll use Doorly’s 12 year old rum from Foursquare distillery.

This island cocktail recipe uses Taylor’s Velvet Falernum from Barbados, but you could easily find falernum syrups from brands like BG Reynolds and Fee Brothers.

If you can’t find authentic falernum at a store near you, there’s plenty of easy recipes and variations online. You might prefer to make your own falernum with your own favorite ingredients.

Classic Bajan Corn & Oil cocktail

2 parts Doorly’s 12 year old rum

1 part Taylor’s Velvet Falernum

Method: in a rocks glass, add cubed ice. Pour rum and falernum over ice and stir to combine and chill. Garnish with a fresh lime wedge.

After enjoying this delicious libation on island, the classic Bajan Corn & Oil cocktail always takes you right back to Barbados.

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With a reputation for double aging fine Caribbean rums, the Plantation brand presents the latest expression of this superb blend of five year old rums from Barbados.

After optimal aging in the Caribbean, Plantation’s Barbados 5 Year Old rum is brought to the Ferrand Estate in France where it is further refined for several more months in small Cognac barrels.

Among the most popular expressions of Plantation rum, the Barbados 5 Year Old gets a second barreling in Cognac casks, delivering a fine aged rum at a very good price.

This popular 5 year old Barbados rum presents a medium golden amber color. A smooth and sweet entry leads to rich banana flambé with a hint of vanilla, ripe butter, coconut and dried fruit flavors. Lingering tones of banana fade into a medium dry, slightly spicy finish.

For a relatively young rum, this expression shows unusually rich flavor and complexity, a result of skillful barreling and blending. At about $20 a bottle, Plantation’s Barbados 5 Year Old rum is perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. It also brings great tropical flavors to premium cocktails.

Cognac Ferrand is one of the world’s premier boutique producers of fine spirits and a leading architect of the artisanal, vintage and double aged rum movement. They produce limited-edition vintage rums from numerous Caribbean territories including Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Guadeloupe, Panama and Trinidad.

Cognac Ferrand has offices and production premises at Château de Bonbonnet in Ars, France and its brands are distributed in more than 40 countries. The brands available in the U.S. include the award-winning: Pierre Ferrand Cognac, Citadelle Gin, Mathilde Liqueurs, Plantation Rum, Landy Cognac, Cerbois Armagnac and Daron Calvados.

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Created at one of the oldest distilleries in the Caribbean, Blue Chair Bay White Rum makes a delightful base for classic and new aged cocktails. Developed by Kenny Chesney and marketed by his Fishbowl Spirits company, the rum has found an eager audience among the “No Shoes Nation” crowd.

Blue Chair Bay’s acclaimed white rum from Barbados is a perfect base for a sultry late summer cocktail, such as the Indian Summer.

The 2015 Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise visits rum distilleries and tasting rooms in Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, Sint Maarten, St. Croix and Puerto Rico from November 15 to 22 aboard the Royal Caribbean Jewel Of The Seas.

Organized by Deborah Fogarty at Be Well Travel, this Caribbean Rum Cruise offers a unique opportunity to visit six islands in seven days, with optional land tours visiting up to nine distilleries and visitor centers, plus rum seminars, special tasting events and visits to authentic island rum shops along the way.

The Rum Renaissance Caribbean Rum Cruise takes place on Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, a dazzling Radiance-class ship which combines sleek swiftness, panoramic vistas, and wide-open spaces for maximum relaxation and comfort. All meals aboard the ship are included.

The Ultimate Caribbean Rum Cruise

Departing from San Juan, Puerto Rico on Sunday, November 15 at 8:30pm, the ship sets sail for Barbados, arriving Tuesday morning for a full-day adventure.

Bridgetown, Barbados

The first stop is St. Nicholas Abbey, an old historic cane plantation where they create small batches of fresh rum from their own cane syrup in a copper pot still. After a stop for Bajan lunch, the group proceeds to another historic sugar plantation where Foursquare Distillery makes some of the very best rums in the Caribbean from both a traditional pot and a modern column still. The final stop in Barbados is the Mount Gay welcome center for a presentation of this iconic rum brand’s history and a VIP tasting of their finest rums.

Roseau, St. Lucia

On Wednesday morning, Caribbean Rum Cruise enthusiasts awake in St. Lucia to embark on a breath-taking tour through the verdant hills near Roseau valley. The St Lucia Distillers Group of Companies produces world class rums and liqueurs in a process that has, like its environment, changed little in a hundred years. Several types of copper pot stills produce unique distillates, which are aged in bourbon and port barrels. A special VIP tasting session reveals dozens of wonderful expressions.

St. John, Antigua

On Thursday, a visit to Antigua Distillery near the St. John’s cruise port reveals the copper Coffey column still used to create English Harbour rums, including the popular 5 year old, the 10 year reserve and the 1981 Vintage.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

The very popular Dutch port of Sint Maarten on Friday offers a myriad of fine shops in Philipsburg along Front Street with 100% duty-free prices. The tour visits the popular Caribbean Liquors & Tobacco shop for rum tastings and a fine selection of Caribbean spirits with great prices.

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

The island of St. Croix is the gem of the U.S. Virgin Islands. On Saturday, a day tour of the Cruzan rum distillery is followed by lunch and a visit to the Captain Morgan distillery and welcome center.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

As the ship saunters into Old San Juan harbor Sunday morning, passengers enjoy a leisurely final breakfast before departing. Americans exit through customs here in Puerto Rico, so there’s no need to go through customs again back on the U.S. mainland.

After disembarking, a visit to the distillery at Casa Bacardi reveals much about the company’s storied past and a view of this modern production facility in action. Back in Old San Juan, the DonQ Welcome Center is a great destination for refreshing cocktails and a presentation on the history of Puerto Rico’s number one rum brand.

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The up and coming rum brand The Real McCoy recently announced a strategic partnership with Davos Brands, an importer and marketer of luxury wines and spirits. Davos seeks to develop The Real McCoy brand nationally, focusing on building sales, distribution and marketing of its premium portfolio.

The Real McCoy Rum brand has recently partnered with Davos Brands to expand distribution of their acclaimed premium rum from Barbados, inspired by prohibition rum runner Bill McCoy (known as the Real McCoy).

The quickly growing Davos Brands, which launched in July 2014 with Ty Ku Sake and Zyr Russian Vodka, partners with up-and-coming best in class wine and spirit brands to develop and execute innovative sales and marketing strategies under the leadership of the Company’s Vice Chairman, Guillaume Cuvelier, founder and former CEO of Svedka Vodka.

The Real McCoy Rum Story

Created by Bailey Pryor, an Emmy award winning filmmaker, The Real McCoy Rum was developed when Pryor was working on a documentary film based on famed Prohibition-era rum runner, Bill McCoy. The pioneer runner shipped the purest rum from Barbados to New York while remaining in international waters, three miles from the coast. McCoy’s high quality rum was never cut with impurities like impersonator runners, and became known around the world as “The Real McCoy.”

Intrigued and inspired by McCoy’s story, Pryor set out to bring the original fabled rum back to the market. After securing the trademark for The Real McCoy, Pryor partnered with famed Master Distiller, Richard Seale from the Foursquare distillery in Barbados. Evidence suggests this is the same family-run distillery used by McCoy himself back in 1920, thus launching The Real McCoy Rum in the US inspired by the original recipes of 3, 5, and 12 year aged rums.

“The McCoy story is an amazing component of American history, and we are proud to bring this product to the marketplace after so many years of research and development. We wanted to make sure that The Real McCoy rum was authentically made and lived up to McCoy’s standards as the ultimate super-premium rum, totally unadulterated and hand-crafted in the original Prohibition Tradition. We look forward to working with Davos Brands to expand our business and claim the top position in Super-Premium rum,” says Bailey Pryor.

“The Real McCoy is a captivating true story that Bailey’s five-Emmy award winning documentary presents masterfully [currently on PBS]. Creating a connection between a brand name that everyone is familiar with and a great piece of American history in the rum category is simply brilliant. We are incredibly excited and proud to represent The Real McCoy,” says Guillaume Cuvelier.

Real McCoy Rum Awards

Since debuting at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival in 2013, The Real McCoy Rum products have won numerous awards at global competitions, including the International Rum Expert Panel (RumXP) Gold and Best In Class awards.

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Ahoy the Duppy Share aged rum. The Westbourne Drinks Company of London has launched a premium expression of blended aged rums from Jamaica and Barbados — The Duppies Share — inspired by the legend of island duppies, the unseen gregarious forces of the Caribbean that conspire to steal a share of fine rum resting in barrels via evaporation.

The Duppy Share features a delightful blend of aged rum from Jamaica and Barbados, imported into the UK by Westbourne Drinks Company.

In whiskey, the loss of spirit to evaporation is known as the angel’s share. Duppies, on the other hand are said to be nefarious and egregious spirits that cause trouble.

The Duppy Share is distilled in the Caribbean by fourth generation rum masters before being shipped to London for bottling. The blend features bold, tropical fruit flavors from a fine three year old Jamaican rum balanced by smooth, oaky notes of an exceptional five year old Bajan rum, matured in American oak bourbon barrels to impart a golden hue and add subtle oaky, caramel flavors.

Designed as a premium rum to be sipped straight or enjoyed on the rocks, this spirit also works well in cocktails that are complimented by a rich, full bodied aged rum with bold notes of tropical fruit, baking spices and buttery caramel.

The producers suggest The Duppy Share is a great rum for creating tropical punch recipes to be enjoyed at social gatherings and rooftop parties during the summer months.

A well designed bottle complements the fine taste of The Duppy Share blend, with an evocative label design inspired by 1930s travel posters.

The Westbourne Drinks Company is a new business founded in London by Rum Adventurer George Frost and start-up guru Jessica Swinfen. Before launching The Duppy Share, Jessica was at Innocent Drinks for almost 10 years. One of the early members of the core team, she helped grow the company into the international brand it is today.

George flirted with the idea of starting a rum distillery in London. Fleetingly. That was before visiting the Caribbean distilleries. That was before meeting the custodians of real rum — the master producers whose skills have been handed down through family-owned businesses for generations. That was before realizing that it’s the American oak barrels in the Caribbean climate that are key to aging fine rum.

At 40% abv, The Duppy Share launched exclusively into Selfridges in 70cl bottles for £37.99.